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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add... (More)

About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in addition to writing editorials for more than 15 years. I have served as a director of many non-profits in the Valley and the broader Bay Area and currently serve as chair of Teen Esteem and on the advisory board of Shepherd?s Gate. I also served as founding chair of Heart for Africa and have travelled to Africa seven times to serve on mission trips. My wife, Betty Gail, has taught at Amador Valley High (from where we both graduated) since 1981. She and I both graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, as did both of my parents and my three siblings. Given that Cal tradition, our daughter went south to the University of Southern California and graduated with a degree in international relations. Since graduation, she has taken three mission trips and will be serving in the Philippines for nine months starting in September. (Hide)

Celebrating a life that left a living legacy

Uploaded: Aug 27, 2015

Shepherd's Gate in Livermore will celebrate a life so-well lived Tuesday at 1 p.m. when a memorial service is held for its founder, Alice Ann Cantelow. Alice Ann went home to be with Jesus last weekend after a long illness. She was 91.
It is fitting that her memorial service will be the first formal activity in the Life Center, the building that completes the campus masterplan in Livermore. I served on the board for six years and throughout my term the Life Center basement was a fenced-off concrete hole in the groundit is finished nine years after I left the board.
Alice Ann founded the Livermore shelter when she was 60 after God put homeless women on her heart when she attended a Crusillio weekend (a short course in Christianity). My wife and her late mother, Eleanor, both participated in a Bible study with Alice Ann while she was founding the shelter.
Alice Ann started it in her home and then, with the help of supporters, purchased an old two-story home with a basement on Portola Avenue. She lived there for the 10 years she ran the shelter,
For years, it was a 30-day emergency shelter with donated goods sorted in the basement. Before she retired, Alice Ann led the board to purchase the current three-acre site across the Portola Avenue.
Her retirement opened the way for Steve and Carla McRee to move across the country to accept leadership of the ministrya role they fulfill to this day. God provided the resources for the current campus to open its first phase in 2000.
Alice Ann's legacy of faithful service and the boldness to step into God's call is more than 11,000 women and children who have been served at Shepherd's Gate and have turned their lives in the faith-filled atmosphere of Shepherd's Gate.

Pleasanton and Livermore are among several Bay Area cities that will have the new evening Starbuck's locations.
The evening location in Pleasanton is nearing completion at the corner of Neal and Main streets, while Livermore will have two locations. The new concept will offer beer, wine and small plates. Liquor licenses are pending for the three Livermore Valley locations.
The coffee company has lots of leverage as it tries to expand its revenues by moving into the evening hours with adult beverages. It's notable that the demographics in the valley resulted in Starbucks placing three of these stores locally.